Italian News

Carnival’s Merrymaking Continues in Sciacca

By Dr. Alberto Lunetta, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

If you have enjoyed the spectacular Acireale and Misterbianco Carnival celebrations over the past week, then it’s time to visit the other side of the island. The Sciacca Carnival, in the Agrigento area of Western Sicily, runs through Feb. 25 in the square called piazza Angelo Scandaliato. This year, the competition for the best float will feature eight big floats and two small floats, that will be displayed during the week in the parades as well as live music and a lot of fun and entertainment for the entire family.

Sicilian clergyman Mario Ciaccio was the first historian to describe the Carnival of Sciacca in 1890. However, historic sources tell us that the carnival has been actually celebrated since the 17th century. At the beginning, Sciacca’s Carnival was mainly a celebration of country life with food and wine. Peasants, fishermen and herdsmen with painted faces and funny hats, played pranks and exchanged insults, played role reversals and made political satire. This was called “lu gabbu” (the mockery). Nobody was offended because that was what carnival was all about.

The grand finale was the burning of “lu Nannu,” (which today is called “Peppi ‘Nnappa”) a straw puppet embodying the spirit of carnival. In burning lu Nannu, it was believed that bad luck and sins were burned away, leaving the town pure and filled with hope for good things to come.

Today, the allegorical carri or floats, depicting political and social satire, are the highlights of the celebrations. Ballets and performances are also held during the parades but the carri remain the focus. Associations including amateur musicians, ceramists, costume designers, poets, craftsmen and decorators begin creating these majestic parading papiermâché floats after summer. At the end of the work day, around midnight, everyone who is involved in building a float gathers for the “schiticchio” (dinner among friends).